The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-04-21

Aiu lie uleW OUT or the bank 81,
: $50, Was tnat thc whole legacy?''
1T was"
He didn't want $3.50 to pay 5000,
did hep"
This was new light to the inspect
OF, who shook his head cautiously.
''From whom did the order to paw
the money Gomez"
''Colez, Garcia & Coz
''Colez, Garcia & Co.. repeated Sc
legria, referring to his note book; ,sthe
/ great American traders
+ ''And you suspect no one?''
/ ono one except the man who passed
J the note.
The detective and the inspector en-
| tered the house. After looking over
the kitchen and buxom widows bed
room without making any discovery,
| the two went to the captains bedroom.
Everything of moment was carefully
examined.
A pair of boots lying in the corner
OF the room finally attracted the de-
tective's attention. Something in the
lining of one of them seemed to in
terest him, for he again referred to his
pocket-book. Having finished his ex.
animation of the bedroom the detect
i've went downstairs, taking one of the
boots with him and inspecting each
stair as he descended. These were ap-
parently more satisfactory, for his
smile frightened considerably, and af-
ter he had been shown the traces of
blood along the floor of the sitting
room it had expanded into a broad
grin.
He walked to the table, and turned
over the books and papers till he found
some sheets of blotting-paper. These
he examined attentively, holding them
up to the light and turning them in
every possible direction. The result
seemed satisfactory, for he pocketed
them.
And now about the captain" said
the detective, choosing the clearest
footprint he could find in the soft mud,
and pulling the boot out of his pocket.
"His name is Rodriguez. you say.
What is he captain OFF"
Nothing that L know of, but they
do say that he has been captain in
the China trade"
''What sort of man is hep
Tall, spare-built, about 40, gray
hair, and no whiskers.''
deep cut over the right eyebrow"
added the detective quietly, as he
stopped and fitted the boot which he
had taken from the captains room
into the impression in the mud,
Yes" said the inspector, puzzled at
the detectives knowledge.
ala al
did hep asked the detective, handing
the boot to the Inspector, on the lining
of which was written "A. Perez
''Never."
He was getting more and more puz
zled.
Perez, alias Coya, alias Delgardo,
and now alias Rodriguez: I've wanted
him these three years. said the de-
teetive, cheerfully. I've got him
now
Yes" said the inspector, grimlv,
shes safe enough over there
And he jerked his thumb toward the
river.
'.Bless YOU" said the detective, ..he's |
nearer America by this time. He'll |
die in his boots OF with the rope around |
his neck yet. Don't you see the fell |
low has murdered himself and bolted |
with the swag? When | found that |
boot thought how it was, and this set |
tied it, said the detective, pulling the |
sheets of blotting paper out of his
pocket and holding them to the inspect |
or. There, all over them, We're the |
words Colez, Garcia s: Co., in a neat. |
clerk-like hand. with that peculiar |
flourish at the end which those who |
had dealings with that eminent house |
knew so well. That letter to the vii |
lage bank is a forgery; it's not the |
hrst time he has served Colez, Garcia |
& Co. this trick. He was in their |
American house hye years; came to
them with forged character, robbed |
them to the tune of So, 900 and bolted. |
He's been smuggling and thieving all
over the world since then. But
must be off. / wouldn't miss him for
ANYTHING"
The detective was right. The vii
lage bank found, to its astOnishment,
that COlez, Garcia & Co. repudated
the letter which purported to bear their
signature, 1t was a forgery. Some
days later the captain was arrested
just as he was in the act of booking
his passage for New York. Subsequent
ly he was tried in the village court in
OpOsura, and, under the name of Rod
riquez. was sentenced to penal servi-
tude for the term of his natural life.